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Business Daily: Is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?

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Is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?

20/03/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Business Daily, Is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?

The Kingdom's new liquor shop signals a change in approach as the tourism industry grows

The Kingdom's new liquor shop signals a change in approach as the tourism industry grows.

An alcohol shop for diplomats has opened in Saudi Arabia. It’s a significant move in a country that has banned alcohol for over 70 years. 

Some believe in order to transform the tourism economy it is a sign of things to come. In the meantime, Riyadh has become known for making some of the best non-alcohol cocktails in the world. 

Is this a small policy change, or does it signal a wider relaxation of the rules? We hear from young Saudis about the generational divide in a country trying to change its image.

(Picture: A bartender prepares a non-alcoholic cocktail in a bar in Riyadh. Credit: Getty Images)

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